The Mississippi Department of Education is inviting your input on proposed changes to Mississippi Succeeds, the state’s plan to comply with the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The proposed changes are in red on the document linked here. You can find additional information about the plan and the proposed amendments here.
Public comments are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6.
Email comments to: MSSucceeds@mdek12.org
or mail them to:
Mississippi Department of Education
PO Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Please be sure to also reach out to your legislators, Speaker Gunn, and Lt. Gov. Hosemann with this important message:
1. Fully fund public schools
2. Keep public funds in PUBLIC schools
3. Let teachers teach – stop the bureaucratic overreach
Find contact information for legislators who represent your school district
Capitol Switchboard: 601.359.3770
Speaker Philip Gunn: 601.359.3300
Lt. Gov. Hosemann: 601.359.3200
With an extra $1-billion to spend in this legislative session and in coming years, “We can’t afford it” will no longer fly as an excuse for underfunding our public schools.
We’ve had five terrific meetings around the state where we’ve laid out our plan to make fully funding the MAEP a reality. Four meetings remain, and you have my word that they will be quick (45 minutes), action-packed, and well worth your time. Join us at the meeting nearest you! (All meetings 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.)
- Thurs., Feb. 2 – Carver Elementary School/Gentry Extended, Indianola
- Thurs., Feb. 16 – Oak Grove High School Performing Arts Center, Hattiesburg
- Thurs., Feb. 23 – Northeast Middle School Library, Meridian
- Thurs., March 9 – Cleveland Central High School Auditorium, Cleveland
If you are thinking of running for a seat in the Legislature or a statewide office, you have until next Wednesday, Feb. 1, to qualify. One way or another, our children need for you to be involved. Reach out to your legislators and form a relationship. Let them know that your priorities are fully funding public schools, keeping public money in public schools (not private), and trusting teachers to do their jobs without a lot of bureaucratic overreach.
The committee deadline is next week. We’ll let you know which bills make it out alive. Together, we’ve got this!
